PRESIJJKNT S AI)])RKSS. 



South Africa published by Bolus, ]\Iarloth and myself. I propose 

 now to give a brief characterisation of each botanical region to 

 show that the main types of vegetation occurring in South Africa 

 are intimately associated with the physical features of the 

 country, and shall then deal with each region in somewhat 

 greater detail. (See map on page 9.) 



1. The Coast Veld. — Identical in extent with portions of 

 Dr. Eogers' coast belt, a region of drowned valleys and sandy 

 dunes which are covered with dense impenetrable bush, tall 

 grasses and palms. Isolated evergreen forests are frequent. 



2. The Lo2c Veld or low country. — A region of low relief, of 

 wide open river valleys with perennial streams and deep alluvial 

 soils, which are covered with gigantic thorn and other deciduous 

 trees beneath which a rank growth of grass persists. 



3. The Eastern Grass Veld. — Including the South-eastern 

 region, the Great Escarpment and the Basuto Highlands, a region 

 of terraced landscapes and deep valleys with perennial streams. 

 The soil is well covered with a grassy turf in which scattered 

 thom trees occur in the more open country and evergreen forests 

 in the sheltered kloofs^. 



4. The Bushveld. — A region of flat low-lying country with 

 perennial streams and deep soils. It is covered witli grass, hut 

 well overgrown with deciduous bush and trees. 



5. The Middle or Banhen Veld. — A region of gently sloping 

 hills, from which more or less straight belts or escarpments of 

 harder rock project'. The hill slopes are covered with grass, while 

 the rocky belts are clothed with stunted deciduous trees and 

 sclerophyllous bush. 



6. The High Veld. — A region of vast rolling tablelands, of 

 horizontal strata and deep soils which are covered with a dense 

 grassy turf and devoid of indigenous trees and bush ; well supplied 

 with perennial streams. 



7. Tlie Fictershurg Highveld. — An undulating plateau of 

 deep sandy soil, covered with grass and scattered bush. 



8. Tlie Waterherg Sandveld. — A mountainous tract of 

 country, devoid of perennial streams, and with shallow, sandy 

 soil which is covered with grass. On the hill slopes there are 

 scattered deciduous trees and sclerophyllous bush. 



9. The Griqualand West Thorn Veld. — A region of long, open 

 river valleys — the chief of which are the valleys of the Dry Harts, 

 the Harts and Vaal Rivers — with deep alluvial soil and gravels 

 which support- a park-like growth of thoi-n trees and tufted grasses. 



10. The Kaap Plateau B^isli Veld. — A region composed of an 

 extensive dolomite and limestone plateau, devodd of rivers but 

 well supplied with pans which are usually dry. The soil is 

 shallow, and covered with bush, xerophytic shrub, shrublets and 

 grass. 



11. The Vaal Kameeldoorn Veld of the Asbestos Mountains. 

 — A region of undulating country, stony and rooky hills, sandy 



